Tenancy warnings should be issued for people who are consistently engaging in illegal dumping.
That's according to Ballymun Councilor Noeleen Reilly, who was speaking as less than half of 2,000 illegal dumping fines in Dublin have been paid in two years.
Councillor Reilly told Newstalk Breakfast people feel there is no consequence.
"I think the main reason is because there's very little consequences if you don't pay," she said.
"Basically a fine is issued, and people will either pay it or don't, but if you don't pay it then that's more or less the end of the matter.
"I think a lot of people know that, and it sends out a very bad message in terms of enforcement of illegal dumping.
"It's certainly something that needs to change, along with a number of other things around waste management".
'There needs to be consequences'
Councillor Reilly said Dublin City Council should do more.
"The first thing is we need to look at their tenancy agreement, and if they are Dublin City Council tenancies, then Dublin City Council has a role there in enforcement," she said.
"A lot of the issues that are happening around Dublin City Council is because Dublin City Council are not enforcing their own by-laws.
"If the fines are not paid, and people are identified as not having a waste management contract, then Dublin City Council needs to come in and be more forceful with those people."
Full rubbish bags on a pavement. Picture by: Walkabout Images / Alamy Stock PhotoAsked if this should include the threat of eviction, she said: "There needs to be, absolutely, consequences for people who are consistently engaging in this activity.
"I remember having this conversation with someone in Dublin City Council a number of years ago, and they felt that it was just a bit too extreme to be issuing tenancy warnings for illegal dumping.
"I don't think that's the case... illegal dumping is the bane of a lot of communities.
"99% of people pay their bins and want their community clean and tidy, it's the 1 or 2% that are destroying it for everyone.
"The frustration with the people that are doing everything we're asking them to do is that there's no consequences for people that are illegal dumping," she added.
